There are quarterbacks who practice well and, then, there is Johnny Manziel.

The Browns’ No. 1 draft pick has not been getting rave reviews.

Meantime, the No. 3 over-all pick in the draft, Blake Bortles, who hasn’t received nearly Manziel’s acclaim or notoriety, is progessing beyond expectation.

Jacksonville offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch said Bortles has improved much quicker than expected since summer workouts and now through the first week of training camp.

“One of the things that you ask of him is to come in here and not just start from Day 1 again,” Fisch said. “We didn’t want Groundhog Day. We didn’t want a repeat performance ... to be like nothing’s changed from the day before. It was a matter of how much is he going to know ... going to recall.”

While Bortles study habits have drawn praise, Manziel’s ability to shed tacklers evidently hasn’t extended to the women he has had hanging off him. He has been a hit on celebrity website, TMZ. On the Browns’ practice field? Not so much.

Not to fret, said Manziel. “Always, for me, I’ve been better in a game situation than I have in practice.”

In practice, coaches want plays to be run as designed. Manziel’s strength always has been improvisation.

“There will be situations in games when things break down and obviously it’s not practice, there are not coaches on the field, and it will be a lot different,” Manziel said.

He has been running the second-team offence but offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan told reporters Thursday that Manziel would soon get reps with the first team. Brian Hoyer is the No. 1 quarterback, but the Browns could use both Hoyer and Manziel opening week.

For one thing, that would make management look a lot smarter then having their No. 1 draft pick twitching on sidelines, juggling a clipboard and looking like a traffic cop who has had his underarm deodorant peppered with itching powder.

BAD HAIR DAY

Rookie place kicker Zach Hocker couldn’t come up with an idea to entertain veterans at one of those team-bonding nights.

So, his Washington teammates came up with an idea for him.

Today, Hocker is wearing a Mohawk hair cut.

Sideways. Ear to ear. Call it The Hedge. It is not a good look.

“I didn’t know (what to do). I told them I’ll cut my hair however you want to cut it. I kind of regret it now,” Hocker said. “In the moment it was fun, but now I wish I had thought of something funny for the team ... I didn’t anticipate this.”

Barber colleges everywhere could use it as their “Before” photo. It’s so ugly, Hocker spent Thursday giving autographs. In a baseball cap. You know, so he didn’t scare the kids.

He’s hoping to shave the rest of his hair before the Aug. 7 pre-season opener.

“Right now they’re saying no,” he said, “but hopefully I can get that thing off real soon.”

GREAT EXPECTATIONS

The wonderful thing about this time of year anything remains possible.

Every quarterback can still be Peyton Manning. In their dreams.

Everyone still believes they can cover like Darrelle Revis, slip a block a pass like J.J. Watt, or become a super-prospect like Jadeveon Clowney.

“I’m going to do great things this year,” says running back Chris Johnson, who believed he was misused in Tennessee and is now with the Jets.

In Chicago, Brandon Marshall is predicting big things for teammate Jay Cutler. “League MVP,” Marshall said of his quarterback. Cutler has been called many things. Best player in football has never been one of them. Until now.

Vikings’ Cordarrelle Patterson told reporters he will be a “top-five playmaker”. Not sure how that happens considering who is throwing the passes in Minnesota. When it comes to playmakers, their quarterbacks have ranked somewhere behind a Jugs machine. He caught 45 balls last year, slightly behind NFL-leading Pierre Garcon’s 119.

Then, there’s Eagles cornerback Cary Williams, comparing himself with Revis and Richard Sherman. CSNPhilly.com reports that Williams said there’s “no question” he belongs in that group. OK. Ahh. And, now for that report on the flying pig who has been spotted landing on an ice flow at hell’s gate. No question. Honest ...

A HURTIN GAME

Giants’ David Wilson, who suffered a stinger this week, visits a spinal specialist Monday. He had spinal fusion surgery last year and there are reports the Giants believe he may not play again. Ever ... Colts have lost starting left guard Donald Thomas for the season with a torn quadriceps. Second-round pick Jack Mewhort moves into his spot ... Seattle’s Tony McCoy is out for the year with an Achilles injury ... The Chiefs secondary is beat up so Thursday they signed Steve Gregory. Eric Berry left practice Thursday with what coach Andy Reid said is an ankle injury. Also out are cornerback Marcus Cooper (hamstring) and safety Sanders Commings ... Ravens’ fourth-round pick Brent Urban, projected to join the defensive line rotation, suffered a torn ACL.

QUICK HITS

Marshawn Lynch, according to an ESPN report, is close to ending his holdout ... Atlanta is looking at signing veteran linebacker Nick Barnett while defensive tackle Peria Jerry, the club’s first-round pick in 2009, is retiring ... Ravens running back Ray Rice, serving a two-game suspension for domestic abuse, apologized to his wife Thursday at a press conference, saying “my actions that night were totally inexcusable. That’s not me. That’s something I have to live with the rest of my life.”